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F. H. GIBBS. APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF WHEELS.

No. 377,196. Patented Jan. 31,1888.

INVENTOH A WITNESSES: T

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- the inner ends of the spokes while the mold UN tree STATES ATENT Fries.

FREDERICK H. GIBBS, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF WHEELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,196, dated January 31, 1888.

Application filed November 30, 1.887. Serial No. 256.541.

To (Ml-whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that l, FREDERICK II. (hues, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State ofNew York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Mannfacture of Wheels, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for the manufacture of wheels; and it consists in certain peculiarities of the con struetion of the same, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved apparatus, a portion of the same being broken away to more clearly illustrate the operation of the same. Fig. 2 is an end view of a section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and shows the tables, with the supports therefor, upon which the mold-sections rest, as well as the manner of bringing the parts of the mold together. Fig. 3 is a face view ofthe interior of one of the mold-sections, illustrating the contour thereof and the location of the mold in its relation to thesupporting-frame thereof. Fig. 4 is a side view of the moldsections closed and securely locked together, and illustrates the means for locking the sections and holding them in proper position as they are de signed to be during the casting of the hub. Fig. 5 is a detached view of the axle, which is preferably used when the wheel is intended for use with a wheelbarrow.

The object of this invention is to produce a wheel of the class used in bicycles, wheelbarrows, and the like which will have the metal constituting the hub cast upon the inner ends of the spokes after they have been properly placed in position in asectional mold and the parts thereof closed and locked, so as to hold is being poured.

In using my invention I employ devices preferably constructed as hereinafter described, in which A A represent a frame, circular on (No model.)

its inner face, of the size of the wheel to be produced, and so formed as to fit the outer face of the rim or felly, in which are placed the spokes about which the hub is to be cast. This frame ispreferably made of two parts hinged, as shown in Fig. 1, by means of the hook and eye a a, while at the opposite side are provided a loop and eccentric-lever, b b, which bear against the stud or projection I), by means of which thesections may be quickly clamped upon the felly, so as to completely encircle the same. The frame is, for convenience, provided with legs, so it will stand up right, though they may be dispensed with, if desired.

The object of the frame A A is to provide means to securely hold the fell y in proper shape, as it has been found where the frame has not been used that the unequal cooling and shrinkage of the metal constituting the hub is very apt to draw the felly out of a true circle, this being especially liable to be the case where the spokes are not of sufficient length or do not abut against a mandrel of cylindrical form at their inner-ends, provided for the purpose of sustaining the spokes.

At each side of the frame A are provided tables B B, which are flat on top and provided with the dovetailed tenons c, which [it into the mortises 0, cut in the L-shaped frames C O, which support the mold-sections D D. The L-shaped frames are provided with central openings, in which arejournaled the projections E E, which extend from and upon which the mold-sections-D D revolve while filling the felly and sectional mold with spokes.

From the sides of the frame 0 extend ears d d, and through said ears are passed bindingrods H II, which extend across the mold D D to the slotted or open ears e e on the frame 0, through the openings of which said bindingrods are passed. Upon the ends of the rods are hung eecentric-leversff, which bear upon the ears 6 e, and when pressed down firmly clamp the mold-sections together. After the mold sections are filled with spokes and clamped together, they are locked in such position that the sprue-hole F is at the top, so as to be easily accessible for filling the mold with molten metal. The sprue-hole may be made by cutting away a portion of each of the mold-sections D D, or may be formed entirely in either of said sections, as may be desired. Y

To avoid turning of the mold after it is filled with spokes and ready for the molten metal, I provide suitable locking devices, which may consist of pins passing through the L-frames into the mold-sections D D, or may be of the form illustrated in Fig. 1, whereinaV-shaped key, K, embraces or passes through the journal projections E E and loops 1; z, secured to the frames 0 O. i

The inner sides of the mold-sections are cut out tofit the contour of the hub, so that when brought closely together these hollowed portions leave a space between them the shape of the hub to be cast.

Each of the abutting inner faces of the moldsections are formed with radial grooves G G, corresponding in number to the number of spokes S. These grooves are adapted to receive and firmly hold the inner ends of the spokes. They are formed preferably larger at the cuter than at the inner ends, so asto receive and guide the spokes to be inserted therein.

The tenon c and mortise 0, located, respectively, on-the tables B B and in the L-frames O O, are for the purpose of supporting and guiding the L-frames O O, in which arejournaled the mold-sections D D, as will be readily understood from an inspection of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings.

In practicing my invention I proceed as follows: The mold Lirames D D and L-sections CObeing spread apart, a felly provided I with perforations for the required number of spokes is placed in position in the lower section, A. The hub mold sections are then brought together so that the grooves G G in the opposite inner faces thereof are. in coincidence, the mandrel J being first placed in position in the mold.

The mold-sections are held in-near contact by moving together the L-frames O O; or, if

it is so desired, they may be locked by suitable fastening means secured on the sections D D until the felly is filled with spokes and the sprue-hole brought to the top. It will be understood that as the portions of the tire and mold which are uppermost are filled they are moved forward or revolved, and the other spoke-openings exposed and filled. Then the binding-rods H are applied and the upper section, A, placed in position and locked. The mold-sections are then looked firmly together and the mold is ready to be poured. After the molten metal has sufficiently cooled, the mold-sections and their supporting-frames O G are moved back,the frame Ais removed,and the wheel removed from the mold.

To insure a ready removal of the wheel from the metalmold, the inner face of the mold is painted with a suitable preparation such as a mixture of quick-lime and plumbago stirredin water or alcohol-beforefilling the mold with spokes, or any suitable and well-known preparation may be painted thereon, so as to prevent'the molten metal sticking to the mold.

In the manufacture of wheels for wheelbarrows it is desirable to cast the same directly upon the axle, inwhich case I use a mandrel like the one shown in Fig. 5, in which is cut the flattened portion K, about which the hub is cast, thus making the wheel and axle integral; but where the wheel is designed for other purposes I provide a mandrel slightly tapering from end to end, which is struck a light blow to free it from the castmetal hub after the same has become sufficiently cooled.

' combination, with a sectional frame for holding the wheel-rim, of a two-part mold provided with ways or grooves adapted to receive and hold the spokes, frames for supporting said mold, and clamps for holding the mold-sections and frames together, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus for making wheels, the combination, with a frame for holding the wheel-rim, of a frame for supporting the hubpart mold journaled therein, whereby the rim and hub-mold are revolved together for the convenient insertion of the spokes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4; In an apparatus for making wheels, the combination, with a frame made in twoparts for clamping the wheel-rim, of a two-part hubmold, a supporting-table, two laterally-sliding frames thereon, in which the hub-mold sections are journaled, and suitable clamps forsecuring the hub-mold sections firmly together,

mold at the center of the wheel and a two- I the hubmold and L-frames, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a molding apparatus, a two-part mold supported and journaled insuitable supports,

in combination with clamps for holding the nesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, moldseetions firmly together and locking dein the State of New York, this 14th day of No- IO vices for preventing revolution of the mold vember, 1887.

while pouring the molten metal when constructed and operating substantially as shown FREDERICK GIBBS and set forth. \Vitnesses:

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed ARTHUR E. PARSONS,

my name, in the presence of two attesting wit- E. O. CANNON. 

